Title As a Man Thinketh

Author James Allen

Year Published 1903

Kind of Book Self-help/Positive psychology

Personal Rating 7/10

My Impressions A tiny book exploring the power thoughts have to change our external reality. He uses metaphors to describe the way our thoughts are seeds that grow into real things. It left me feeling empowered (seeing as his claim is that we are the ones to blame or thank for the things that happen in our lives), however, the idea that our thoughts determine EVERYTHING that happens to us feels a little excessive. Nonetheless, it is a classic well worth reading.

Date Read circa 2012 and Jan 2019

Practical Takeaways

  • "Recognize failure as the pathway to attainment."

  • Cultivate the mind like a garden ie. Weed out negative thoughts that don't serve you

Big Ideas

  • The mind is like a garden that must be cultivated

  • Negative thoughts can make you physically ill.

  • Thoughts of fear can kill you

  • Dreams/thoughts are the seedlings of reality

  • Those who sacrifice little accomplish little

  • Those who sacrifice greatly accomplish much